Dutch navy takes delivery of hybrid tugboat
he hybrid tug Noordzee was recently handed over to the RNLN
Named Noordzee, it is nearly 29m long and the first standard hybrid tug supplied by Netherlands-based Damen that the RNLN will employ.
The RNLN currently has four conventional tugs in Den Helder at its disposal. However, these older vessels lack sufficient power to pull new ships such as the HNLMS Karel Doorman, HNLMS Rotterdam and HNLMS Johan de Witt, Damen noted. Furthermore, the older vessels still make use of conventional propellers with rudders, restricting manoeuvrability, and no longer fit the vision of sustainability that the RNLN has for the future.
The "state-of-the-art" ASD 2810 Hybrid is one of Damen’s standard tugs and, thanks to its hybrid propulsion system, is powerful and durable, Damen said. It is equipped with two rudder propeller units for optimum manoeuvrability and is able to sail on full electric power by means of a set of batteries, as well as diesel-electric on the generator set. When full pull is required, both main diesel engines are used, giving a maximum bollard pull of 60 tonnes, ensuring that all heavy-duty tug jobs can be realised.
Damen said the RNLN had been looking for a standard tug that was very environmentally friendly along with being powerful enough to perform heavy operations. The three RNLN tugs are part of a five-vessel order placed in cooperation with the Swedish navy, which is to receive two tugs that are also of a standard design, but meant for operations in icy waters.
The RNLN sailed the Noordzee to Den Helder from Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania. The other two Damen tugs, the Waddenzee and the Zuiderzee, will be delivered in mid-March and mid-June, respectively.
